Courtney S
- Research Program Mentor

MPA at Cornell University

Expertise

Business, Environmental Policy, Writing, Editing, Arts, Sustainability, Renewables

Bio

Courtney is a Senior Climate Analyst with the U.S. Climate Alliance, where she leads the Alliance’s Emissions Working Group and oversees the Alliance Policy Database. Prior to assuming this role, Courtney completed her Master of Public Administration at Cornell University, where she specialized in environmental policy and earned a certificate in environmental finance and impact investing. Her thesis focused on emissions cost modeling within the City of Ithaca using various social cost of greenhouse gas recommendations. During her master’s program, Courtney worked as a student consultant to the Peruvian Ministry, attended COP27 as a Cornell student delegate, and was a Project Manager for the City of Ithaca Green New Deal (IGND). She has contributed to many IGND projects, including CDP reporting and the pursuit of LEED for Cities certification. Courtney also served as Senior Editor of the Cornell Policy Review and is an Environmental Defense Fund Climate Corps Alumna (’22), through which she consulted the New York City government in capacity building for their ongoing fleet electrification project. She holds a B.S. in Sociology from the University of Utah and spent several years working at Tesla before pursuing her master’s degree. In her spare time, Courtney enjoys rock climbing, cooking, and dancing; she danced professionally during three years of her undergraduate studies and continues to teach and choreograph when she is able.

Project ideas

Project ideas are meant to help inspire student thinking about their own project. Students are in the driver seat of their research and are free to use any or none of the ideas shared by their mentors.

Review Paper: Electrifying Transportation

How do we incentivize municipalities and residents to invest in electric transportation? This project will look into the infrastructural improvements, marketing, financial tools, and partnerships necessary to incentivize and implement electrification of public and private transportation.

Movement that Starts Movements

Can art be a catalyst for change? This project will look into the historical influence of art on social change.

Review Paper: The Economics of Climate Change

An in-depth look at current economic models and how they contribute to excessive industry emissions, and suggestions on how to revise them to fit the changing environmental and financial climate.

Review Paper: Catalyzing the Energy Transition

This project will review energy demands, our reliance upon non-renewable vs. renewable energy options, the increasing need to transition away from fossil fuels, and the barriers we must overcome to be successful.

Teaching experience

In addition to mentoring over 30 students across Polygence's various programmatic offerings, Courtney has over ten years of experience teaching competitive and recreational dance to students aged 8-18 with skill levels ranging from beginner to pre-professional.